breastfeeding, solids and EASY

[seaflower]

I've had some success implementing EASY with DD when she was smaller, but now it is all over the place (she is still up all night nursing, etc). I'm thinking of trying again but I'm a bit confused regarding the EASY plan when they are on soilds and still BF. Are they supposed to take milk AND solids every 4 hours, or do they alternate? How will I be sure she is taking enough milk? I'm back to work (flex hours and different ever yday of the week) so trying to acomodate that as well.

I'll post this in the EASY forum as well as I'm not sure where does it belong, may be I should have posted two separate questions.

[daisymelan]

Hi Seaflower, (I remember you) our los are around the same age.

In regards to following EASY when your lo begins solids, I don't alternate, I look at it like they should complement each other.  I nurse him first, change his nappy and then give him his food.  I do this 3x a day.  He then gets his evening feed and his df.  By feeding first, she's filling up on milk and then the food is just a top up.

If you are thinking about going back to EASY, I'm sure you'll find some helpful advice on here.  But remember to be consistent.  That's the most important.

Good luck.

[JacobMarksMummy]

I'm not an easy expert but my schedule was much the same as jodies (above) was. I always gave milk first up until about a month ago, that way you know she is getting enough to eat even if she doesnt like the solids you try to feed her.

Regarding night nursing, my son is 10months and still some nights he has a sneaky nurse in the night. How often is she nursing at nights? If she isnt getting enough intake in the day then sorting her schedule will hopeful sort that out. If she isnt hungry and is waking through habit then you will need to persivere with PU/PD with her at night time or you could try water and a hug. In theory she shud get fed up of waking up if all it is for is water and eventually stop waking. I havnt tried this method myself but have heard lots of sucess stories. hth

[seaflower]

Thank you for the replies! So you would feed, lets say at 7am, 11am, 3pm, 7pm (and possibly df), right?

I am usually out of the house in the afternoons/early evenings, so try and get her to take more food then, and catch up on the milk during the rest of the time. Can't express at work, unfortunatelly. My milk has also adjusted and there is LOTS during the night (she wakes up every hour and I nurse her to sleep, about two of the feeds are long) but during the day there isn't too much extra to express. I am a bit wary of cutting out the night feeds as nto sure if I'll be able to keep my supply up, and suspect she wakes up from her eczema being itchy,  rather than hunger or habit. (trying to sort that one out first!)

Haven't even tried pu/pd yet, can't face the few sleepless nights... We dont get much sleep as it is, but it is some.

Daisymelan, I haven't posted or read much recently, I found it I was getting so stressed out with routines and sleeping habits, I had to step back for a while and take it as it goes

Thanks for the comments, I'll start by trying to get some structure in her feeds first, currently she eats whenever we feed her (and she eats ALOT!!) S.

[daisymelan]

That feeding schedule looks very similar to how we feed owen.

If I were you, I would go to the props section of this site and read the post called "my little boobie fan" or something close to that by "Mrs. Pintus".  It's a long read, but I think you can relate to what that mama has to say.  She struggles but then updates you on how much progress she has made.

And my heart goes out to your lo with excema.  I have a close friend whose son was suffering terribly from it.  He had bad night sleep problems.  If possible, get a dermatologist or ped to help your lo out... it's worth it if you haven't done it already.

Good luck!

[seaflower]

Thanks daisymelon, I'll look at that post.

I've brought her to several dermathologists, have over 20 different creams at home... it is a bit better, but still flares up. I just have to wait for her to grow out of it